APRIL/MAY 2006 Volume 90 • Number 6 LeaguerUN IVE RS I T Y I NT E RSC H O L A ST I C L E A G U E Meeting Briefs and Notes of the minds Academic State Meet called a “success” Calendar of Despite losing pow- upcoming events er temporarily across May 27-29 ........ Texas State- half of the city, torren- Solo & Emsemble Contest tial rainfall Thursday June 1-3 ....................Softball night and a flooded State Tournament contest room, UIL June 8-10 ................ Baseball Academic State went State Tournament off without a hitch. June 13 .................Legislative “Despite last min- Council - Academics, ute changes caused Athletics and Policy by Mother Nature, June 16 .................TILF schol- things generally ran arships notifications mailed to Waiting for the coaches’ meeting to be- applicants and principals smoothly and awards gin, Ekaterina Klishina from Barber’s Hill June 23-26 .................... ILPC assemblies were all on High School and her coach Neda Barfield Summer Workshop time,” said Treva Day- review her poetry selection. Photo by July 7-8 .....................Capitol ton, academic director. Jeanne Acton Conference for high school “We really appreciate and EJH academics Contest director Larry White shakes hands with the mathematics people being understanding under the circumstances.” July 27 .....................Last day second place 3A winner, Joey Reyes from Bridgeport HS. The For three days, the University of Texas at Austin campus was covered for strength/conditioning first place 3A winner (left) was Paul Webb also from Bridgeport. with high school students from across the state who all hoped to bring programs The awards ceremony was held May 5 at the LBJ auditorium. home a medal. Students competed in everything from One-Act Play First place team was Bridgeport HS. Photo by Jeanne Acton to computer science contests. “Of course everyone wants to go home with a medal around their neck, but so many coaches and competitors were thrilled with giving their best effort ever,” Dayton said. “Lots of people took the time to say what a great experience the State Meet was, regardless of their contest results.” The State Academic Championship goes to the school in each conference earning the highest total number of points for all academic events, including State Cross-Examination Debate, State One-Act Play and the State Academic Meet. The Academic State Champion for Conference 1A was Garden City High School with 158.5 points. Lindsay High School was first runner-up, and Borden High School was second runner-up. The Academic State Champion for Conference 2A was Argyle Congratulations to Mark Isaa- High School with 147 points. Holliday High School was first runner- cson, triple-crown speech up, and Salado High School was second runner-up. winner from Bay City High The Academic State Champion for Conference 3A was Lindale School. Mark turned in gold UIL Academic State is not just about competing. It’s also about High School with 114 points. Bridgeport High School was second medal performances in waiting. Waiting for your competition. Waiting for your results. runner-up, and Barbers Hill High School was third runner-up. cross-examination debate, Junior Dimiter Popov (left top) from A&M Consolidated High The Academic State Champion for Conference 4A was Friendswood extemporaneous informa- School knew this and was prepared. He brought his chess set High School with 166.5 points. Aledo High School was first runner-up, tive speaking and prose for himself and his teammates. Jeffrey Chen (left front) and and El Paso High School was second runner-up. interpretation. Paul Gustafson (right front) both of A&M Consolidated were The Academic State Champion for 5A was A&M Consolidated happy to join in playing “Bughouse,” a team chess game, with High School with 96 points. Plano High School was first runner-up The UIL web page is: Dimiter. Photo by Jeanne Acton and O’Connor High School was third runner-up. www.uil.utexas.edu UIL Leaguer 2 • News April/May 2006 Testing conflicts TAKS scheduling changes forces UIL to revisit dates for academic regionals EDITOR exas pub- the direct conflict. • There would be three weeks between aca- Dr. Bill Farney, lic schools Here are some considerations: demic regionals and state. Some are not happy UIL Director Th a v e a about this, especially One-Act and speech con- MANAGING EDITOR tremendous stake in • If academic regionals are moved one week testants. Jeanne Acton, student performance later, there is a conflict with regional track, golf It is important that we find a spot in the cal- assistant academic on mandated TAKS and tennis. In addition, there would be only one endar to reserve dates for our sequence of district, director tests. week (or three working days) between regionals regional and state academic competitions. By ADMINISTRATIVE The UIL has fol- and the Academic State Meet. qualifying to the state meet at least one time dur- STAFF lowed a policy of re- In conference A through AAA many students ing their four years of high school competition, Dr. Bill Farney, scheduling events to would have to choose between athletics and students are eligible to apply for over $1,000,000 Bill Farney director UIL Director avoid conflicts with academics. in scholarships through the Texas Interscholastic Dr. Charles testing. In the last • The least intrusive path would be to move League Foundation. Breithaupt, regular session, Sena- academic regionals one week earlier to April Far more important is the opportunity for Texas assistant director & tor Frank Madla, D-San Antonio, authored a 13-14. students to compare their talents in academic director of athletics bill that prevented UIL playoff games from be- • This is the date for the State Soccer Tourna- venues with other students from across the state. It Richard Floyd, director of music ing played on certain days during the week of a ment. A student would not be able to participate is a positive learning experience with tremendous activities TAKS test. in soccer and academics. However, there have lifelong enrichment potential. Treva Dayton, The bill did not address regular season contests, been few soccer players in 4A and 5A who also We did not announce a revised schedule at director of academics only playoff games. Therefore, for the 2006-2007 compete in academics competition. the academic state meet because we had not Jeanne Acton, school year, the UIL announced a calendar to • The Conference A Area track meet would received responses from all regional sites. Rest assistant academic eliminate conflicts with boys’ and girls’ basketball have to be moved either earlier in the week or to assured that the UIL staff is working on the best director playoffs. an earlier week. Because of the small size of schools, possible solution. Daryl Beasley, In late April, the original TAKS testing dates numerous students in Conference A compete in More importantly, we are committed to assistant athletic were changed by the Texas Education Agency both athletics and academics. changing and adjusting future events to protect director Diana Cardona, at the request of school superintendents. This • Other conference 2A-5A district track meets the testing schedule and be a contributor to spring meet materials necessitated a revision of the UIL (previously would have to be scheduled earlier in the week Texas education initiatives and mandates, not director announced) playoff schedule for both boys’ and (Monday, Tuesday) if districts do not hold them a hindrance. Peter Contreras, girls’ basketball. the first week of April. Whenever a revised schedule is completed, an athletic coordinator This new schedule was placed on the UIL Web • The ILPC State Convention would need to announcement will be made to all schools and Dr. Mark Cousins, site on May 2, 2006. be rescheduled. Holding this convention on April posted on the UIL Web site. athletic coordinator We apologize for the confusion, but our top 14 would wreak havoc on the journalism contests, We wish to thank countless numbers of school Sandra Deel, priority is to work with state officials to avoid contestants, coaches and director. administrators, coaches and parents for your un- financial officer potential interference with the academic mission • If we choose to move academic regionals wavering support of the UIL. Eddie Wolski, waiver officer of our schools. a week earlier, 20 regional sites at colleges and More importantly, we thank you for continuing Rachel Harrison, In 2006-2007, there is a conflict with the testing universities will need to reschedule meets. We to offer competitive and performance opportuni- athletic coordinator schedule and the UIL Academic Regional Meet. already know two, perhaps three that cannot ties and hope to the young people of this great Kelly McCollum, We see no option but to move regionals to avoid make the change. state. technology director Luis Muñoz, one-act play director Bonnie Northcutt, October, November/December, January/February, Garland ISD; Mark Henry, Galena Park ISD; John director of policy Leaguer March and April/May. There are no issues in June, Folks, Northside ISD. 4A • Darrell Floyd, Stephenville, ISD; Rick Reedy, Jana Riggins, July or August. One year’s subscription is $8. Peri- “ISSN 0897-4314” odicals Postage Paid in Austin, TX. Frisco ISD, Don Hendrix, Crosby ISD; Alton Fields, assistant academic Pleasanton ISD. director POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The STATE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE 3A • Jerry Blakely, Littlefield ISD; Bruce Wood, Kim Rogers, Leaguer, P.O. Box 8028, Austin, TX 78713. Chairman: Mike Motheral, superintendent, Sundown Kaufman ISD; John Key, Groesbeck ISD; Paul Smith, public information The Leaguer is the official publication of the ISD; Palacios ISD. director University Interscholastic League. The Leaguer is Members: Richard Avila, Corpus Christi; Paul Galvan, 2A • Jerry Vaughn, Floydada ISD; Richard Cohagan, Ed Stidham, distributed to Texas public school administrators, Fort Worth; Pamela Harrison, former superintendent, Gunter ISD; Glenn Hambrick, Elkhart ISD; Charles compliance director contest directors, coaches and sponsors, the media, Temple ISD; Kerry Hansen, superintendent, Troy ISD; Butcher, Boling ISD.